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An indefinite road blockade has resumed in Sajek, a popular tourist destination in Rangamati, disrupting transport and daily life for around 30,000 indigenous people.
The second phase of the blockade began at 6am on Thursday (October 15), following a joint announcement by Babudhan Chakma, convener of the Sajek People’s Rights Protection Committee, and Natun Joy Chakma, president of the Sajek Karbari Association.
All vehicle movement along the road to Sajek has been suspended, while resorts, cottages and other tourism-related businesses have also halted their services.
The disruption has severely affected members of the Lusai, Tripura, Chakma and Marma communities living in the area. Local markets remained unusually quiet even on market day, while farmers were unable to transport crops grown on their jum fields to markets due to the lack of transport.
Residents fear a prolonged blockade could lead to food shortages in Sajek. Various quarters have called for a swift resolution to the crisis.
At the start of the blockade on Thursday, protesters were seen burning tyres, bamboo and tree trunks at several points, including the 10 No. area of Baghaichhari’s Baghaihat, Gangaram Bridge and the 14-kilometre point in Machalong.
The suspension of transport and closure of shops have left residents of Sajek and surrounding areas in serious difficulty.
The unrest reportedly stems from clashes linked to a struggle for dominance between two armed regional groups in the hills — the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), also known as the UPDF (main), and the JSS faction led by Santu Larma. Several rounds of gunfire were reported in different parts of Sajek, leaving a Tripura schoolchild injured by bullets. The subsequent tensions have fuelled the ongoing instability.
The two organisations behind the blockade launched their first indefinite road shutdown on October 11, citing the presence of armed members in different parts of Sajek and concerns over public safety.
Later that afternoon, the administration assured them that their three demands would be implemented within 48 hours, prompting the organisers to suspend the blockade temporarily.
However, the organisations said they had resumed the blockade after the deadline passed without implementation of their demands.